Grinder 2 Finals: Will Chamberlain vs. BRock Parker

Josh Bennett

Will Chamberlain wouldn't fault you for not having heard about him. Fame was the last thing on his mind when he signed up for the second grinder. He just wanted a spot at Nationals. Across from him was a recognizable face, that of Brock Parker. He was one of a handful of pros such as Eric Froehlich and Dave Williams who found themselves without the pro points or rating to earn a slot. He remained stoic, focused on the one match he had to win to earn himself a berth. His perennial cohorts William Jensen and Matt Linde were nowhere to be seen. Chamberlain had plenty of friends on-hand to root for him. Parker was with red-green with a splash of black. Chamberlain's was a sleek black-green number.

Game 1

Parker led with Wellwisher, and Chamberlain attempted to answer with Gempalm Strider, but his nerves had got the better of him, and he'd accidentally played a second swamp. "Nervous?" asked one of his friends.

"Just a little bit, just a tad." – Will Chamberlain

With his two black mana he set up a Crypt Sliver. Parker made a morph. Chamberlain came back with Severed Legion. Parker had another morph and hit for two. Chamberlain returned the favor and played his Strider. Parker's morphs charged in. Chamberlain put his Sliver in front of one, and his Strider on the other. He chose well, as Parker put his Skirk Commando in the graveyard. He added a Wirewood Herald, and was done.

Chamberlain swung back and sat on his Cruel Revival. Parker cycled Hundroog at end of turn, then bashed again. Chamberlain took two to kill the Herald. Parker fetched Birchlore Rangers, which gave him the black mana he needed to cast Twisted Abomination. Chamberlain had a Lorian on his next turn, but Parker had drawn a swamp. He swung in. The Lorian blocked the morph, and the Sliver blocked the Abomination. Parker unmorphed Brackus to trade.

Chamberlain increased his evasion clock with a Screeching Buzzard. With the Abomination in his way, it looked like his best bet would be to win with evasion. Parker took the opportunity to Sprouting Vines for two Forests. Chamberlain Reaped the Graves for his Strider and Lorian. Parker complicated that plan with a Smother on the Crypt Sliver. Chamberlain ate five from the Abomination.

Deciding on the evasion plan, Chamberlain hit the Wellwisher with Cruel Revival. By not waiting until Parker activated it, he gave him an extra life. He hit for four. Parker came in with Abomination and Rangers. Chamberlain tried to stop the Rangers with his Strider, but Parker cycled a Strider of his own after damage was on the stack. He added a morph. Chamberlain did the same, and included a Murlodont.

Parker hit with the Abomination and the Strider took one for the team. He the flipped up his Skirk Marauder to kill Chamberlain's morphed Treespring Lorian. Chamberlain hit back with his Legion and Murlodont. Parker chumped with his Rangers. Chamberlain hoped Stonewood Invoker would be enough. He traded his Buzzard for the Marauder and fell to three. Parker showed him Snarling Undorak.

Chamberlain's Legion attacked, but Parker was still at seven. He waited on Invoker mana. Parker thought for a moment, then sent both his guys. The Murlodont chumped the Undorak, and the Invoker bounced with the Abomination. Parker crushed his hopes by playing another Undorak. Chamberlain drew a blank, and they were on to Game 2.

Finally, Chamberlain found his fifth land, and threw down a Silklash Spider, slowing Parker's offense. Parker made no play. Chamberlain also had Lingering Death for the Wellwisher. Parker unmorphed his Venomspout Brackus, then swung in. Chamberlain pushed his Spider in front of it. Parker Shocked after combat, and made another morph.

"He's always got the card." – Will Chamberlain

Now Chamberlain was on the defensive. Parker served up a Hundroog. Chamberlain made a morph and held back. Parker's men swung in. Chamberlain blocked the Brackus. Parker's morph turned out to be Woodcloaker, meaning that Chamberlain took twelve on the chin, falling to four.

Unfortunately, Chamberlain found no seventh land on top of his deck. His face-down Bane of the Living couldn't save him. He blocked as best he could and Baned for two, leaving Parker with three creatures and him with the Bane, but couldn't survive another turn, even with Cruel Revival in hand.